UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The University of Pittsburgh men's and women's track and field team broke two school records and set several career best at the Nittany Lion Challenge Saturday afternoon. Carvin Nkanata highlighted the competition in the 400M dash, breaking the meet record while tying a NCAA top time of 46.36.

Nkanata set a season best in rout to finishing first in the 400M. He was .05 seconds away from breaking his personal best time of 46.31 set in 2013 at the SPIRE Invitational.

"We had another solid weekend at Penn State," Head Coach Alonzo Webb. "Evann Thompson broke the school record in the 600M with a run of 1:30.98, breaking the old record of 1:33.12 set by Krystal Epps in 2005. Overall, it was a really good meet for us. We're moving in the right direction, and we're doing the right things. I was impressed by how far along some of the athletes have progressed so far this season."

In the 1-Mile run Cayla Del Piano finished first in her heat and seventh overall with a time of 4:58.60. Del Piano became the first female since Maureen McCandless (4:44.00) to break the five minute mark, a feat that has not been done since 2005.

Freshman Desmond Palmer recorded a career best in the men's 60M hurdles with a time of 8.08, crossing the finish line in sixth place. On the women's side, Taranisha Taylor placed second in the 60M hurdle finals (8.45).

Brycen Spratling registered a new personal record in the 60M dash with a preliminary time of 6.85. Spratling shaved off 0.04 seconds from his previous career best set at the 2012 Big East Indoor Championships. The senior finished fourth overall in the event, while Micah Murray crossed the finish line close behind in sixth place.

Spratling then went on to win and break the school record in the 600M dash with a time of 1:19.06, the previous record of 1:19.53 was set in 1989 by Dave Moore. In the men's 200M dash, Murray ran an all-time indoor and outdoor best of 21.38. The senior tied for second place overall in the event.

In the men's 4x400 meter relay, the A team finished second, narrowly being beaten out by Penn State with a time margin of 1.97 seconds. The men's team of Brylan Slay, Murray, Spratling and Palmer finished with a time a time of 3:09.80.

In the throws, Haley Springman recorded a personal best distance of 17.79 meters (58' 4.5") in the weight throw, placing fourth in the event.

In the distance events, Hillary Boxheimer claimed third in the 3,000M run (10:05. 34). For the men, Cullen Davis placed fourth in the same event with a time of 8:36.92. While in the women's triple jump, Ashley Corum launched herself into third place with a distance 12.17 meters.

The Panthers will be on the road next weekend to compete at the Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Va. and at the YSU Invitational in Youngstown, Ohio on January 24.

Nkanata Ties NCAA Top Time in 400M DashPitt Track and Field breaks two school records at Nittany Lion Challenge